by Joachim Jean
“So don’t be nervous. Be happy.”
She smiled broadly. “You’re right.” She took a deep breath, closed her fingers around his arm, and stood up straight.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Ready,” she breathed.
Jake nodded to Jean Marc and the piano player began Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March.” Cara and Jake proceeded down the aisle slowly. Grace watched her sister’s gaze connect with Grant’s. He was grinning, his eyes wide. Gary Lawrence, Jane Hollings’ live-in love, was the best man. Grace was barely able to blink back tears of joy at the look of happiness on Cara’s face. Maybe someday I’ll have this, too.
The ceremony and the receiving line passed in a blur for Grace. Jean Marc kept refilling her champagne glass, and she lost track of time. The string quartet was playing, and Cara and Grant were on the dance floor. Jake danced with Sarah and Gary with Jane.
Grace leaned against the wall. Suddenly a woman was beside her.
“It’s nice to finally meet the Movie Maven,” Tiffany Cowles purred.
Grace turned abruptly. “Tiffany?” The woman gave a nod. “Nice to meet you, too. Thank you for running the review of Jake’s movie and for trying to stop Gunther Quill.”
“No thanks necessary. Didn’t mean to ruin your life, just wanted an exciting cover story.”
When the dance was over, Tiffany rejoined her husband. Jake wandered over. “Been looking all over for you.” He took her hand.
“We can dance the next one.”
“Max Webster is here.”
“Of course. Love Max.”
“He gave me the news. Thank you so much. You’re amazing,” Jake said.
Grace blushed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She gazed at the floor.
“Total truth, remember?” He lifted her chin with his finger until their eyes met.
“Okay, okay, I know. Are you happy about it?” She chewed her lip.
“To have a part in your movie… Are you kidding?”
“You’re perfect for it. Will Max give you the time off Broadway?”
“We’re negotiating that now. He’s joking that he has to negotiate with himself!”
She laughed. “He told me he was relieved to have one part cast already.”
“Then we can be together,” Jake said. “Come on.” He led her around the corner, through a side door to a secluded alcove in the garden. He sat her down on a white, wrought iron bench. The metal was cold on the back of her legs, but the look on Jake’s face was warm. He reached into his pocket and brought out a small, black velvet box.
Her hand flew to cover her mouth. This can’t be what I think it is, can it?
Jake knelt down on one knee and opened it, revealing a three carat round cut diamond ring. “Gracie, I love you with all my heart. Will you marry me?”
Tears gushed forth, spilling down her cheeks. In a quick movement, Jake whipped out his handkerchief and shoved it into Grace’s hands. She mopped up her cheeks before the wetness stained her dress.
“Geez, didn’t think proposing would bring waterworks.” Jake was crestfallen.
“Yes.”
“What?” He looked up at her.
“I said yes. Isn’t that what you wanted to hear?”
“You mean you will marry me?”
“Yes. How many times do I have to say it?”
Jake jumped up and pulled Gracie into his arms. A passionate kiss followed.
* * * *
Inside, Cara was looking for her sister.
“G, have you seen Gracie?”
He touched his finger to his lips and took her hand. Leading her around to the side of the room, he pointed at the young couple in the garden, locked in a loving embrace. The newlyweds paused, champagne glasses in hand, to watch the young lovers.
“I’d better eat carefully,” Cara muttered, grinning.
“Why?” Grant asked.
“Looks like this dress is going to be needed again very soon.”
Epilogue
On a plane to Los Angeles
When Grace found her good friend was flying west, she pleaded with the stewardess to allow them to sit together. Since the flight was light, there was an empty seat next to Gracie, and the switch was made. They were flying first class.
Once the seatbelt sign was off, champagne was served.
“Why back to L.A. so soon?” Gracie asked.
Dorrie’s eyes glowed. “I’ve been hired to choreograph a new movie. The producer is paying for this first class seat. I couldn’t afford it.”
Grace’s eyebrows shot up.
“Yep! Hustle and Dance, the Broadway musical, is being made into a movie. Chaz Duncan is going to star in it, too.”
“That’s fabulous!”
“If the movie is successful, they’re planning a miniseries and then a regular TV series.”
“Wow! You’ll make a ton of money. I didn’t know you did choreography.”
“I started after I broke my ankle. I had to kiss my dance career goodbye.”
“A silver lining to a terrible cloud.”
Dorrie nodded just as they were interrupted to place their order for dinner. Both women requested the chicken Cordon Bleu.
“How awful to lose your career like that.”
“My star was on the rise, great role in a movie, hot producer fiancé. I was living my dream.”
“And then?” Grace coaxed.
“I couldn’t dance anymore. The part in my second movie went to someone else, and my fiancé went south, too. It’s ironic, I broke my ankle falling down the stairs of his beach house.”
“Oh my God! What a bastard!”
“Yeah. I’ve missed dancing. I give dance and yoga lessons to be doing what I love, but I barely scrape by. The dance contest brought some important people…thanks to you and Jake.”
Their meals arrived, and the hungry women tucked into their food.
“This new job’ll bring you big bucks?” Grace asked between bites.
“I hope. So much depends on other people. I mean, the movie pays well, but the other stuff…have to wait and see.”
“Your fiancé walked out on you during your biggest crisis?” Grace shook her head.
“It’s been three years. I’m finally over it.” Dorrie speared a cooked carrot with her fork.
“You’re so beautiful. I’d think you’d have your pick, Dorrie. Why’d you choose him?”
“I was pretty full of myself five years ago. I walked away from three terrific men in New York to come to L.A. to end up with him. Maybe I was hasty.” Dorrie ran her fingers through her dark auburn locks.
“Three guys?”
“Yeah. Still wonder if I had had one more day with each of them, would it have made a difference?”
“And yet you ended up with this creep?”
Dorrie chuckled and took another sip of champagne. “My first movie was a big success. Success attracts all kinds of bloodsuckers.”
Grace thought of George for a second. “Well said. Who is this lowlife producer?”
“You might have heard of him—Gunther Quill?”
Grace spit out the champagne she had been drinking. “Who?”
“Gunther Quill. We were engaged for a year. Guess you’ve heard of him.”
“He has quite a reputation,” Grace sensed blood rushing to her face.
“Well deserved, too. He’s slime.”
They continued to eat in silence for a bit. Dorrie noticed Grace’s ring.
“Let me guess–engaged to Jake?”
Grace nodded and smiled.
“You two make a great pair. He’s smart to snap you up.”
“Thanks. What about you? On the verge of great success. Anyone special in the picture?”
Dorrie shook her head. “Haven’t met anyone good. I’ve been working so hard to get this chance, and now with no one to share it… makes it a little…empty.”
“What are you gonna do about it?”
The ride got a lit
tle bumpy, and the seatbelt sign flashed on right away. The stewardess came by to take their trays and refill their champagne glasses.
“I have to go back to New York for three weeks this summer to film a dance sequence in Central Park for the movie.”
“Oh?” Grace lifted her eyebrows.
“Yeah. I’m tacking on some vacation time, too.”
“Are you going to look up…?”
“You got it. I’m going to have my one more day with each of them.”
“That’s so cool, Dorrie. I hope you find the right guy.”
Dorrie raised her glass to make a toast. “Love, this is your last chance!”
The women clinked glasses. After they drained the bubbly, a ding from Dorrie’s cell phone sounded.
“Text,” she explained to Grace. Dorrie took out her phone and opened the message.
We need to talk. My car is coming for you at the airport.
Gunther
*THE END*
About the Author
Jean Joachim, wife and mother of two sons, is owned by a rescued pug, named Homer. She’d been writing non-fiction for what seemed like forever until she got up the nerve to try fiction. It was love. Now she spends her days in New York City in the company of her family, her characters, a cup of tea and a secret stash of black licorice.
OTHER BOOKS BY JEAN JOACHIM:
Now and Forever 1, A Love Story
Now and Forever 1, the Book of Danny
Now and Forever 3, Blind Love
The Renovated Heart
Under the Midnight Moon
Love Lost & Found (with Ben Tanner)
If I Loved You (Hollywood Hearts)
Red Carpet Romance (Hollywood Hearts)
Memories of Love (Hollywood Hearts)
Call of Duty (anthology)
Secret Cravings Publishing
www.secretcravingspublishing.com
